1. CONDUCT INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE RULES AND REGULATIONS Updated 10.29.2015 A. The YMCA Indoor Football League expects all players to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike and professional manner. This includes the use of foul language, therefore it will not be tolerated. B. All touch calls by the referees are final. The officials may deem disputing touch calls unsportsmanlike conduct. C. No alcohol is to be consumed on the premises or prior to arrival to the premises. If an official smells alcohol on the breath of a player or perceives a player has been consuming alcohol they will be asked to leave. D. The Indoor Touch Football League is a recreational league and in order to ensure the safety of all players, any intentional or purposeful action, whether legal or not, that could cause injury to another player shall result in a penalty and ejection from the game. Any player who blocks an opponent or makes a rough touch which creates such a force that slams a player into the boundary wall will be assessed a 15 yard personal foul for unnecessary roughness. E. Any player ejected from a game will also sit out their next scheduled game. F. Officials have authority to eject players from the game/building. 2. ENTRANCE FEE Entrance fees will be determined each year by the YMCA. 3. GENERAL A. Free substitutions are allowed. B. Out of bounds is the dotted line around the field. C. Failed 4 th down conversion will result in opposing team taking possession at the spot of the ball. D. All punts will be taken from the line of scrimmage after the offensive team declares to the referee they have decided to punt. There will be NO fake punts. Where ever the ball hits the ground after the punt (or hits the side wall or net) is where the ball will be next put into play by the offensive team. Page 1 of 6
4. LEAGUE TIEBREAKERS: A. The first criteria is head to head record among the teams involved. B. The next criteria are fewest points allowed during the season against all teams. C. Wins = 2pts, Tie = 1pt, Lose = 0pts 5. AUTHORIZED EQUIPMENT A. No padding of any kind will be worn unless verified by officials for injuries. B. No helmets. C. TURF SHOES ONLY D. Each team must have its own team color verified by the league, and each member must wear its team color. Any player not wearing their team color that is clearly identifiable will not be allowed to participate until corrected. 6. PLAYING ROSTERS A. Each player is only allowed to play for ONE TEAM. B. Anyone playing for a team must be on the team roster prior the game start. Not doing so will result in a forfeit. C. Rosters will be locked from add/drop on after Wednesday s games on week 4. 7. PLAYING TIME AND STOPPAGE OF PLAY A. A complete game will consist of two 25 minute halves. B. The clock will run continuously during game except for: 1. Injuries 2. Official time-outs 3. Team time-outs - 1 minute (one timeout per half) 4. Last minute of the second half. D. During last minute of the (second half only), the clock will stop for: 1. Out of bounds 2. Incomplete pass 3. Exchange of possession 4. Penalties' assessments 5. Injuries E. Each team will have ONE time-out per half. Page 2 of 6
F. Team will be allowed 30 seconds to snap ball from ready for play signal. G. There will be 2 minutes allowed between halves. 8. FIRST DOWNS A. In order to get a first down a team must advance the ball by either run or pass to the next solid line or zone to gain within their allotted 4 downs. B. Failure to obtain a first down will result in a change of possession by either a turnover on downs or the offensive team electing to punt. C. End zones will be marked with two orange cones. 9. SCORING AND TIE BREAKING A. Overtime (overtime will only be played during playoffs and finals) 1. Coin toss. 2. The team winning the toss will have the choice of going on offense or defense. The other team will have the choice of end to put the ball in play. The overtime period will follow the NY State high school 20 yard line overtime procedures. 3. Each team has 4 downs to score. 4. If no score or both teams score - tie game will be called, except in play-offs, possessions continue until there is a winner. 5. No additional timeouts in overtime. 6. If there is a delay to start the game because of the lack of players, the team not ready to start will forfeit 3 points for every two minutes they are not ready to play. The winning team on a complete forfeit will win 21-0. 10. BLOCKING A. No leaving feet to block. 1. No cross body blocking. 2. No "crab" blocking except at line of scrimmage. B. A crab block is one in which offensive linemen get in parallel position to line of scrimmage to block defensive linemen. C. NO CRACK-BACK BLOCKING; No offensive player may come back toward flow of play to block defensive pursuit. D. No blocking below waist downfield. E. Blocking below waist is allowed at line of scrimmage after contact above waist from stationary position without benefit of lunging at defensive player. Page 3 of 6
F. A receiver may be bumped or blocked only to protect the defensive player that feels a running play is being attempted. After the receiver makes his first cut the receiver may not be bumped or blocked. 11. OFFENSE A. Consists of three linemen, two receivers and quarterback. B. All players are eligible receivers. C. When ball carrier is down, he may get up and run if he has not been touched. D. Pass receiver must have one foot in bounds on reception. E. Forward pass must be released before touch. F. Pass interference does not end. Ex: Pitch pass. G. All touches will be made between the shoulders and the foot of the ball carrier. Body to body contact is not considered a touch. H. If a receiver is touched after tipping the ball he may not advance after the reception, although other players may advance a tipped ball regardless. e.g. Tipped to defense, tipped to another offensive player. I. When the offense is attempting either a one point PAT from the 5 yard line or a two point PAT from the twenty yard line and the defense intercepts the pass attempt, the ball can be returned to the defensive end zone for a 2 point score. J. Field goals may be attempted by the offensive team anytime they have advanced the ball inside their opponents 40 yd line (mid field). The team must declare they are attempting a field goal to the referee. Three points will be awarded if the ball passes into the soccer goal on-the-fly and does not hit the top or side walls. K. If an offensive receiver goes down to the ground or on one knee after completing a catch the player is down and cannot advance the ball further. 12. DEFENSE A. Consists of three linemen (max.) and three defensive backs. B. Backs may line up on line of scrimmage and rush providing there is three yards between them and the nearest interior lineman. 13. ILLEGAL USE OF HANDS ON OFFENSE AND DEFENSE A. Offensive linemen must keep hands and elbows close to body when blocking. B. Defensive linemen will be allowed to push off with hands. C. No head slapping allowed. Page 4 of 6
D. No one on either team will be allowed to throw forearms, elbows, or fists at their opponent. E. No holding or tripping. 14. PENALTIES A. All penalties will be administered in accordance with the National Federation of State High School Referees Association with the exception of the following: 1. Defensive holding: 10 yards (5-30inch steps) 2. Offensive holding is ten yards from the line of scrimmage. 3. Clipping/Personal Foul: 15 yards (7-30 inch steps) from spot of foul or from line of scrimmage, whichever is greater. 4. Unsportsmanlike conduct: a. Any vulgarity used after one warning on the field or sideline by any player will constitute a dead ball foul and be a 15 yard penalty w/o loss of down. b. Any vulgarity or abusive language by a player on the field or sidelines directed at a player, official, or spectator will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and the resulting second 15-yard penalty assessed. c. Second offense of this nature will result in player's ejection from game including complete surrounding area. This will also disqualify the player for their next scheduled game. d. All fighting, regardless of fault, is an automatic ejection at the discretion of the official. 5. Fifteen yard penalty ( seven 36 inch steps) for defensive pass interference and automatic 1st down. 6. Blocking from behind, above the waist is a 10-yard penalty except in pass blocking situations where the quarterback has not left the "pocket" (the area behind the scrimmage line between the guards). In this case the penalty will be only 5 yards. 7. Roughing the passer is 15 yards plus automatic 1st down. Running into the passer is 5 yards, no automatic 1st down. 15. PERSONAL ENDANGERMENT Any threat to harm or any intentional physical contact with an official on fairground property constitutes permanent termination from the league. Highlighted areas: A fumble cannot be advanced and therefore becomes a stoppage of play. Page 5 of 6